Colleen Tomasello

9.1

Excellent Chardonnay, nicely oaked, full bodied, still young — 7 days ago

with Mike

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Ridge – Monte Bello 2017
Santa Cruz Mountains – California, USA 🇺🇸
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Overview
One of California’s most legendary wines, Ridge Monte Bello has been estate-grown, produced, and bottled entirely in-house since the 1960s. The 2017 vintage reflects a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, offering both structure and elegance. (Educational note: Monte Bello’s higher-altitude vineyards give cooler temperatures, yielding more restrained, ageworthy wines compared to Napa Valley powerhouses.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, cassis, and red plum at the core, accented by cedar, graphite, and cocoa. Hints of tobacco, dried herbs, and floral notes bring depth and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and refreshing acidity. A graceful, layered wine that “dances on the palate,” finishing long and harmonious with both power and finesse.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled lamb, prime rib, or braised short ribs. Also pairs beautifully with mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A benchmark California classic — Bordeaux in inspiration, but with a Santa Cruz identity all its own. The 2017 Monte Bello is elegant, expressive, and deeply satisfying. 🍷

Did You Know?
Ridge’s Monte Bello gained international fame in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where it ranked among the world’s top Cabernets, cementing California’s place on the fine wine map.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Highly allocated and cellared by collectors worldwide, Ridge Monte Bello is a vertical-worthy wine with decades of aging potential. — 2 months ago

Brendan Wright

9.3

Dark red pomegranate, mushroom, bramble, light, enough acid to counter light tannins. Excellent cab. — 17 hours ago

Ganesh

9.4

Still young — a month ago

Karine Puschmann

9.4

More tannins — 5 months ago

Bill Mowry

8.9

Vanilla nose with some acid and minerality. Lemon and citrus flavors paired well with salmon. — 7 months ago

with Cristian, Lou and 1 other

Colleen Tomasello

9.4

Excellent cab! Always great from Ridge, this one is full bodied, nicely aged (still has room to age more, but wonderful right now!, wish i had a couple more) — 6 days ago

Ryan Colthorp

9.0

Ruby colored. Fruity but spicy. Some undertones of wood. Just an excellent wine to with Alla Vita. — 2 months ago

Dave

9.3

What a strange syrah from a wonderful town. Wooly Bully tannins! Dark cherry cola gives way to chocolate, nutmeg, maybe plum, and a bunch of barnyard funk. It's awesome! — 7 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Pretty good after a few mins of air contact and paired with avocado — 7 months ago